St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-26
TREASURER E. A. BURKE
Versus "The Venerable Seller OF
Nichols Hats
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. s, 1885,

| NEW ORLEANS, Nov. s. 1887.
| Editor Picayune: In his speech at 5hreVe
| port, as published III the I'd of this morn
ing, my friend Major Burke expressed sur
prise at the charge that he had been {
Republican, and at the time QuOtsd d. 1875
had never belonged to the Democratic party
| Tie saYs: AN attempt tWas) made to
| prove the fact by reading what purpOrted
| 10 pa testimony given by me before the Pot
| ter committee in 1876 in favor Of our people
| wherein, referring TO the campaign OF 1872
| ! am reported as aging that L was a liberia
| Repu bllCan, and had never belonged to the
| Democratic party"
lie goes on to say that il the venerable
| seller OF Nichols hats had made inquiry OF
| MIN his attention would have been called TO
| inc lact 'that reporters error had been
| corrected by letter to Hon. ClarhsOn Pot
| ter, chairman OF that committee, written
| upon publication of suCn a report, also that
| IL MAO been publicly corrected in 1878, when
l ran for state treasurer
| The testimony given by Major Burke be-
| Tore the Potter committee is not tic matter
| nor IN huHtt. the allegation made by the
| venerable seller of Nichols hats 49, that
| In 1915 Major Burke was self-Gonfessed Ri
publican. and had never belonged to the
Democratic party; and this allegation Is
| based upon testimony given by him in Feb
ruary. 1875, before the committee Of which
George Hoar was chairman and Messrs.
hntelcr, Frye and Marshall were members.
1hl5 portion OF the testimony was not
given orally Turning to the published re-
port OF tnaL committee OF Louisiana invesli-
gauon, 1878, page t53, IL win be seen that:
l.. A. burke, having been sWOrns read the
following statement:
MY name is +. 4. Burke 80 years OF age !;
native or Kentucky; occupation, member OF
the city council, administrator Of improve
uenLs for the CITY Of New Orleans. [ ain n
liberal Republican, and have been third
termer; political disabilities removed IN 1867
or 1858. on recommendations of fourteen Re-
publican senators and twenty-three Repub-
mean members. | never belonged TO the
Democratic party"
What the major says in his Shreveport
speech ABOUT his testimony before the Potter
committee Of 1876, being in reference to the
Campaign of 1872 can certainly have no ap-
pilcatlO to his testimony given before the
H0ar committee of 1915, being with refer.
eIce to the campaign OF 1874. 1t must also
De noticed that no aid not go before the Hoar
committee III prepared.
event before 1t with written statement
which, after being sworn as a witness, he
read TO the committee as the opening part of
his testimony.
When ana where did the major deny the
correctness or that Hoac committee testi-
nony!
The venerable seller Of Nichols hats"
IS perfectly right IN saying that Major
Burke, when testlfying under oath before
the Hoar committee on the 9th OF Februa-
ry, 1875, did state that he was a Republican
with the qualIticatiye Liberal pref11ed;
ana that up to that date he had never be-
longed TO the Democratic party.
1T Is but just to the major 10 say that he
held TO Ms Republican opinions and atfilia-
lions conscientiously and for what appeared
to him then to be good and sufficient rea-
soDs, winch he gives at length in letter.
dated July -, 1874, IN which, deprecating the
agitation OF the question of the supremacy
OF the white race. he frankly says:
"HUldlng these convictions firmly, and be-
heylng 1t 20 be contrary to the theory Of this
government that q contest should be waged
against any person on account of race, re-
l1gion or nationality, l have declined TO
JOIN the Democratic ranks
II we give nameless person his dues. let
the ma jur have his. That he was Repupli-
can. third termer and no Democrat is
aoundantly shown by his letter of IA forti-
tied by his affidavit of 10.
In conclusion l say that the major had
right to be such II he thought tit; but it is of
questionable proprlety that he should lend
his undoubted talents TO arraign as schis-
matcs. heretlcs. factlonists, boilers and
political anarchists those who faithfully
Tanned the all but extinct embers OF the
Democratic party while he was honestly
holding ReDnDilc convictions and baskIng
IN the warmth and enjoying the substantial
smiles OF Republican, as he does now
those OF Democratic governor.
Respectfully yours, etc. EDW. BOOTH